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Protest tegen uitbreiding Amerikaanse basis in Zuid-Korea
15 mei 2006 - Al wekenlang verschijnen er berichten in de Zuid-Koreaanse media over de felle protesten van boeren en activisten tegen de uitbreiding van de Amerikaanse Legerbasis Camp Humphreys, ten zuiden van Seoul. Die basis moet drie keer zo groot worden en daarmee het belangrijkste centrum van Amerikaanse militaire activiteiten in Zuid- Korea. Veel boeren hadden hun land verkocht aan de staat, maar 70 boerenfamilies weigerden te vertrekken en gaan gewoon door met het zaaien van hun gewassen. Al vele dagen vindt er een veldslag plaats met politie-eenheden. Hieronder volgt een verslag van een Zuid-Koreaanse vredesorganisatie.
From Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea (SPARK), Seoul, Republic of Korea
In the last few days there have been clashes between peace movement activists and police and military forces in the village of Daechuri, near to Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, the site of the planned enlargement of a US military base, Camp Humphreys.
According to plans agreed on between the US and South Korean governments, the base is to be expanded to 3 times its current size so that it can serve as the main center of US military activity in the Republic of Korea.
As part of worldwide US military realignment, many of the smaller US bases in South Korea will be closed and their troops and equipment will be relocated to Camp Humphreys.
The base expansion plan requires the appropriation of more than 1000 hectares of prime farmland. Under pressure from the ROK government, most of the farmers sold their land and moved away, but about 70 farm families refused to yield. They were determined to keep their farms and homes and continue their farming.
Thousands of peace activists rallied near Pyeongtaek to support the farmers' struggle against the US military and the land seizure. The ROK government reacted by sending in several thousand riot police and troops to remove the peace activists and farmers by force.
Dozens of people were injured and many others were arrested. Helicopters flew overhead to bring in coils of razor wire, which the security forces used to enclose the fields. The contested land was declared a closed military area and trespassers will be subject to arrest and possibly courts-martial.
The farmers and peace movement activists will continue to protest and resist.
Below is a short statement written by Ms. Oh Hye-ran, a SPARK staff member.
“Let’s go and plant the seeds of peace in Daechuri” By Oh Hye-ran
On 13 May a candlelight vigil was held in the Gwanghwamun district of central Seoul, to celebrate the victory in the Pyeongtaek struggle.
On 14 May throughout the country, more than 7000 people who had defended Pyeongtaek held gigantic peaceful rallies.
At 7:00 in the evening on 13 May, more than 5000 people attended a candlelight vigil in Gwanghwamun in downtown Seoul to mark the victory in the Pyeongtaek struggle. The area was filled to overflowing.
Committee chairman Kim Chi-tae read out a statement to the participants:
“Without fail we expect go to Pyeongtaek tomorrow, to see the atrocities of Pyeongtaek with our own eyes and find out the truth. We will absolutely not yield. Let the sprouts of peace grow.”
He affirmed the people’s determination to struggle to the end.
Daechuri residents brought baskets filled with Pyeongtaek rice seeds and distributed them among the candlelight rally participants. “We do this in the hope that they will take root in the land there”, they said.
The participants were determined to enter the war base area and to plant new seeds of life in the land of death, and resolved to carry on a vigorous struggle.
On 14 May, more than 18,000 police formed an impenetrable barrier around the village of Daechuri and indiscriminately arrested people.
In spite of that, throughout the country more than 7000 people, including workers, students, and other citizens, took part in huge peaceful rallies.
They demanded, “Withdraw the military. Reexamine the whole policy of US base expansion. Let the farmers work in peace!”
Even though the participants were taking part in mass demonstrations in different parts of the country, all of them called out with one voice, “Withdraw the military! Make a complete reevaluation of the Pyeongtaek US base enlargement! Let the farmers work in peace!”
SPARK
3rd Floor, Sungwoo Building
18-4 Shin-Gongdeok Dong
Mapoku, Seoul 121-851
Republic of Korea
www.spark946.org
www.peaceone.org
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